Victoria would not be in lockdown if vaccine uptake was higher: James Merlino

Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino says Victoria would not be forced into a draconian seven-day lockdown if vaccination rates had been higher. “We would not be in this position that we are today, this necessary and difficult position, that we are today, if our vaccination rates were much higher than they are right now,” he said. It comes as the state’s coronavirus cluster grew to 26 cases overnight following 40,411 tests triggering a state-wide lockdown ending on June 3. He blamed poor vaccination rates on the Commonwealth government’s delayed rollout of the jab and rare blood clot side effect linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. “These are supply issues the Commonwealth is responsible for, securing, procuring, and then delivering the supply, so that's been one of problem,” he said. “Of-course the changes that were announced in regard to AstraZeneca, had a hit on public confidence.” He urged the Victorian community to move past any vaccine hesitancy they might be feeling and said Australia would not get past the pandemic without a successful vaccine rollout.